Naipaul's Mystic Masseur (1957). Thank you, Ria! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. ORAL LITERATURE Oral literature can be considered as the earliest kind of Caribbean Literature consisting primarily of abundant folk- tale customs, legends and misconceptions, tunes and poetry. You’ve started a conversation that can platform so many other discussions. Hi Sash, thanks for stopping by! Cross-Cultural Studies is the culminating effort of a distinguished team of international scholars who have worked since the mid-1980s to create the most complete analysis of Caribbean literature ever undertaken. I don’t want to suggest that Mootoo’s subsequent novels and short fiction pieces (I’ve not yet had the pleasure of reading her poetry collection, The Predicament of Or) have taken a nosedive in quality—far from it. Dreaming of a Caribbean escape but not sure which island to pick? save. Jun 5, 2020 - Explore ACUBIEN's board "Caribbean Literature" on Pinterest. See more ideas about Literature, Caribbean, Internet fame. There are so many ‘modern classics’ (and they’re often big, hefty novels) that it can be hard to choose at a glance what to read next—and even harder to understand it. I’ve enjoyed M. NourbeSe Philip, too, but mostly for her creative non-fiction (which has her poetry threaded through it). Thank you, Sharon; I’m thrilled that you’ve stopped by, and that you find the list (the first of many I’m planning) to be encouraging. One of the illustrious three titles on the OCM Bocas Prize shortlist, and the winner of the prize’s fiction category, Is Just a Movie is Earl Lovelace’s sixth novel. Either way, unfortunately, I haven’t found an undisputed list for that, though many prolific readers do offer their suggestions. I’m recommending three books I’ve already read, and adored, as well as three works I’ve not yet approached. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing the author read from this book before its publication, and I was mesmerized… as was everyone present in the audience that day, if appearances were anything to go by. James’ second novel caught mine when I first saw it, about two years ago, browsing through the shelves at Paper Based bookstore, one of the best repositories for regional lit. And as you will discover, the best Caribbean & Latin American Literature are not always the ones at the highest prices! More than a million and a half Africans, along with many Indians and South Asians, were brought to the Caribbean between the 15th and 19th centuries. Less imprinted on travellers’ minds is the literature that takes shape under not only the tradewinds of the tropics, but also in the historical web of immigration, exploitation, and colonisation. I’ve read two of these, and have a third on my pile to read later this year (for the YoFC!). 414 caribbean literature essay examples from #1 writing company EliteEssayWriters™. Oh, and my Everything novel is Toni Morrison’s Beloved, with Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Are Watching God a close nudging second. . My memory is becoming increasingly sieve-like as I get older. I’ve only read two of Lovelace’s novels so far, and I heartily want to make this my third. Its perfection also makes it perfect fodder for creating postcard-kitsch. Compilation ... 100 Best American Novels of the 20th Century. I think Bloodaxe have a couple of recent Caribbean poetry books out too . These covers are also absolutely incredible. I haven’t read any of her books yet, but I am almost sure that I’ll be in awe when I do. Have you read Olive Senior? In fact, the unfairness is stacked on my end, since I’ve approached every Mootoo publication hunting down a similar sense of lush magic, of the beautiful urgency wherein lyrical language dances with an unforgettable story. Wide Sargasso Sea book. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I love the idea of reading outside of one’s previously accepted borders; perhaps that’s similar to what you’re aiming to do in your approach to more non-European, non-North-American titles? on this island. I’ve no doubt that many of the collections of these poets are sold by Peepal Tree, but I’ll have a look-through of the site again soon, to confirm. , A wonderful list. Even if it is, I believe you will not think it so. I think I might begin with Create Dangerously, the non-fiction work that won the corresponding category at last year’s OCM Bocas Lit Fest. Sep 9, 2016 - Readings for AMST-A 351/ENGL-L 383. The Ghost of Memory by Wilson Harris (Guyana). I read his first many years ago; I’ll read his last this year, and spend the rest of my life filling in the spaces of the other twenty-three. Their position is paradigmatic of that of the average Caribbean immigrant, since their motivations were also two-pronged. — V.S. Caribbean Literature. Loove! I studied Olive Senior at university, but I don’t think I gave her work the proper reading it deserves. This cluster of tropical islands has everything from rainforests and world-class white-sand beaches, to UNESCO-listed sites and buzzing cities. At the moment I’m just interested in novels, though I am not opposed to short stories I found your blog when I Googled, “Best West Indian novels of all time.”. Is that ludicrous and fanciful? Naipaul’s Mystic Masseur (1957) and A House for Mr. Biswas (1961), among others; and in the poetry of Louise Bennett … Dig in. Getting into my thoughts on gender roles in writing would take several posts, but in short, I try not to be reductive on either/in any spectrum of the equation. Popular Caribbean Literature show list info. I scanned some of the listings, and while they all featured many prominent titles from around the globe, I grew disheartened, as often I do, by the lack of Caribbean literature presented there. I have offered in brackets alongside their names, the islands with which they are chiefly aligned, with which they chiefly align themselves by birth, residence, inclination, and any and all such markers of prominence. Includes the 2013 Commonwealth Prize–winning story “The Whale House” by Sharon Millar. In the Time of the Butterflies book. Literature in English specifically from the former British West Indies may be referred to as Anglo-Caribbean or, in historical contexts, West Indian literature, although in modern contexts the latter term is rare. Who are Caribbean writers and titles you would recommend? Ah, the lofty aspirations of the hopelessly book-addled! Part of my personal challenge to read excellent novels over all. So yes, I’m trying to push myself to read other literature , Pingback: Reading Ruminations: January to March 2012 « Novel Niche: A Place for Books, Pingback: The three books of my 26th birthday. Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy (Jamaica). . Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (Dominica). Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. I’m recommending them on the strength of expectation I attach to them, based on the promise they show, not necessarily (or at all) on the accolades they’ve won.) Akashic Books and Peepal Tree Press, two of the foremost publishers of Caribbean literature, launch a joint Caribbean-focused imprint, Peekash Press, with this anthology. Leonardo Padura's top 10 Cuban novels. The Book of Night Women by Marlon James (Jamaica). Summoning this title to this list reminds me, too, of how much I want to read Small Island, the author’s penultimate novel to date, and one of the books I received in last year’s Yuletide Book Gifting. Shara McCallum My friends are both superlative, sensitive, wise readers, and I’m hoping they will come to this list with even a glimmer of the excitement I feel, in composing it. What wonderful-sounding recommendations. What an insightful and well-thought-out list. Ah, I wonder how many books from the Caribbean are on these? (And, yes, I have the same worry about Cereus, but I must try it anyway, because I want to keep pressing it on reading friends and feel justified in doing so: heheh. Understanding their experiences and exploring a multiplicity of diasporas can enrich your life and help you develop new views and a deeper understanding of Otherness. Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Books Best Sellers. 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